Almost heaven

The week commencing 10 June was all about getting my ducks in a row prior to travelling to West Virginia on 16 June. An incredibly annoying array of tasks weighed on me. I tried and failed over multiple sessions to do my taxes online, due 17 June for international filers (a US phone number now required – alternative verification methods failed). I tried and failed to submit a timesheet for a freelance editing job on Queen's University website. I tried and failed to create an account and upload a photo for a volunteer stint I will be doing in Sept (the Irish Open at Royal County Down). I did, however, manage to check in for my flight and book buses and taxis.

The highlight of the pre-departure week was ladies away day at Templepatrick Golf Course. This is us at the end of our round. It was a beautiful course and a beautiful day. I'm the giant on the left.

Then the 20-hour traipse to WVa. I spent my arrival night in Columbus to collect myself then went to an Apple store the next morning (17 June), 10 minutes north of the airport, to buy a new MacBook. Then to Parkersburg, where I got an IRS form at the library, filled it out, went to the PO for a date stamp – thus extending my filing deadline to 15 October. During my week in WVa I met with mom's accountant for help filing my taxes and I have a call in to her lawyer for help getting a US will that complements my UK will. As most of my assets are in the US, I need both. So much adulting going on! I've always done my taxes so am not thrilled to hand the task off but the US makes it very difficult to do your taxes when abroad. And the taxes will only get more difficult when I retire.

I left Belfast on a cool 50F morning and arrived in the US during a skin-burning heatwave. All logistics and adulting aside, mom and I had a good visit.

Mom was in good form and there was lots of cooking, shopping, visiting, even a film – IF. I played golf one day with Sandy and mom had her over for lunch the next day. Here is the queen holding court in her happy place.

And with Sandy:

And with me:

While West Virginia may be almost heaven, mom's porch is her heaven. She reads, eats, naps there and enjoys watching and listening to the birds. Cardinals and blue jays are favourites. The house is on a steep slope so the porch is actually up a level – you really do feel like you are in the trees.

The trip back on the 23rd was eventful. First stressor was getting out of Parkersburg w/o paying a toll, requiring a short diversion into town to get on a non-toll bridge. The rental car company likes to stick it to you if they are sent a bill for an electronic toll. I got to the airport ridiculously early and was mad at myself for going through security before I had sat down for a nice meal – there was only one restaurant option on my concourse and it was extortionate. I got food out of a Farmer's Fridge (excellent salad) and went to my gate. Where I learnt my 5:50 pm flight to JFK was cancelled due to storms. The gate agent was about to board the prior flight, the 4pm to Detroit. She said there was one seat left and I should run to gate 51 to use a courtesy phone to get an agent to book it. Run I did and literally banged my head against a wall while listening to the recording about them valuing my call. Eventually a woman got on the line and we stumbled over my lack of an acceptable confirmation number. I had booked originally with KLM, but all the flights were Delta ('partner airline') flights. She had a hard time re-booking me b/c I didn't have a Delta confirmation number. I mean who designs these systems?? She eventually booked me to Detroit, then to Amsterdam (!!!) then to Dublin. I ran back to gate 55 and was the last person on the Detroit flight. I was gobsmacked when my luggage showed up in Dublin as I had checked it in for the JFK flight. None of this would have happened if I had had a nice meal before going through security. I also got to the airport 3 hours early, later realising I had to be there only 2 hours early b/c first flight was domestic not international. Funny how things work out.

Despite the added mileage, I got to Dublin around 10:30 a.m. Monday, only an hour later than originally planned (due to getting the earlier Detroit flight). I missed my 10 am bus but got the last seat on the 11 am bus to Belfast. While the trip was tiring, I felt incredibly lucky to pull off so many changes. And see my bag again! I was at my desk working for PRI by 1pm.

Films in transit: Perfect Days – more poem than film, a meditation on finding happiness in simplicity. American Fiction – a send-up of the book publishing industry by a black author who wasn't black enough for white readers. All of the actors were brilliant. All of Us Strangers – a tragic love story? While I adore Andrew Scott, I have to say the film was darker than I expected. There were poignant moments with his parents that turned on the faucets, but the love story was too too sad. Anatomy of a Fall – all the hype wasn't hype enough. It was brilliant.

10 June to 24 June